Cornwall

[Dannymahon]

Good afternoon,

Were going on our first family holiday to cornwall this August 2024 with our 5 and 4 year old, the 4th week of the school holidays, and I’m just looking for some advise for when to leave to drive there from Birmingham to Truro and then to leave to drive back from Truro to Birmingham please?

we were thinking to leave at 4am to go there?
and maybe 8pm to come home?

not sure also wether to do Friday - Friday or Saturday to Saturday?

many thanks

D

What time do you need to check in or out by?

Friday to Friday, but make sure you are through Bristol by noon.

It’s air BnB so check in 3pm and out 10am.

4am seems unnecessarily early to set off and is going to make your first day of holiday long and miserable. I get you want to beat the traffic, but really you only need to get past Bristol earlyish to have a reasonable run down. I'd rather go Friday to Friday, but having done this drive from the Midlands dozens of times over the years, it's definitely down to luck more than judgment whether it's a horrible journey or not. Don't flog yourselves to 'win' the race down to Truro, it'll still be there if you set off a couple of hours later and the journey takes half an hour longer.

Easter bank holidays just gone were traffic chaos on A30

I'd say early hours. We traveled down to Cornwall on Good Friday, set off at 5.45 (we're in east mids) and the traffic was a breeze. Got a little bit heavier after Bristol but not too bad. We usually leave this early in summer too and the roads are reasonably clear. I don't mind hitting some traffic near the end of the journey on the A30, but I hate starting off my journey sat in traffic, it's miserable!

Friday is better but you’d need to clear Bristol by 3pm. We live in SW and we often have to do Sat-Sat to Truro it’s ok if you can get past Bodmin by about 8am and the Saturdays at end of August are always easier than at start when the whole of central England descends on SW (or that’s what it feels like 🤣).

Coming from Kent we leave at 5am to get round and off of the M25 before the traffic builds up. We stop twice to stretch our legs. We also plan to visit an NT property on the way. Last year we were at Cotehele for 11am, spent the afternoon there before driving on to Fowey. We’ve also stopped off in Looe for a wander round and a pasty. It just depends if you want to make the most of your first day or not. I’d rather leave early and let the kids sleep in the car if they are tired.

I'm Cornish. If I'm leaving on a summer Saturday I'd leave Truro around 3-4pm. Stop at Strawberry Fields at Lifton by Devon/ Cornwall border for a toilet stop rather than a motorway services.

Friday to Friday is quieter. On departure day I try to be gone by 7am tbh. 4am on arrival day seems a bit much though. I would leave 9am, have one brief stop and aim to have lunch in Truro, either butties or cafe. Have a wander round the shops or paddle in the sea then get to holiday let for 3pm.

Not sure where you would paddle in the sea in Truro, but the coastal car parks are full of estate cars stuffed to the brim from about 9am onwards on Saturdays. If you're actually staying in Truro, Meva and Charlestown are both good for small children. You will have grumpy children by the time you get to the holiday let though if you leave that early.

I wouldn't worry about the traffic on Fridays. The A30 coming down only gets busy from about 4pm and then it's quiet again from about 7pm.

I would say 7am would be ok to leave Birmingham. On the way home, I'd spend the whole day in Cornwall, go for tea and then head home about 6pm.

We used to do a long drive from the north for many years before coming to live here. Your travelling times seem sensible . We used to set off on a Thursday and break the journey up by a night in Devon in a premier inn. Coming home we used to have the last day on the beach weather permitting and set off at tea time,the roads were usually pretty empty then. I hope the weather improves for you and that you have a lovely holiday

You're planning on staying in actual Truro or do you mean coastal surrounding area.? Porthtowan St Agnes way?

Live in Cornwall so opposite but in the summer tend to set off 6amish. Wouldn't suggest setting off at 4am you'll be shattered and kicking your heels a bit.

Also I'd do Friday to Friday because it's slightly less nuts on the a30 than the Saturdays.

However the new road is opening fingers crossed in June so not sure what impact that will have

We did Birmingham to Cornwall last August (Saturday) and left home around 6.30/7 am and the journey down was fine, we were in Watergate Bay for lunch.

On the way home we left the cottage at 7am and had zero traffic but did miss out on an extra day of holiday (it was a grey and wet day!). If it had been nice weather we'd have left in the evening.